Patent GB-553139-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for use in training air pilots and to control mechanism therefor
IPC: G09B9/12
Filed: 1941-11-03
Abstract: 553,139. Ground trainers for aircraft pilots. WINSTANLEY, H. M. Nov. 3, 1941, No. 14130. [Class 4] [Also in Group XXXVII] Apparatus for training air pilots comprises a dummy fuselage supported on normally horizontal pivots at right angles to each other in a gimbal mounting, which in turn is suspended on a vertical pivot, separate electric motors connected to the several pivots and mechanism for controlling the circuits of the banking and diving motors and operating dummy control surfaces comprising a stick or hand lever mounted to rock about two axes at right angles to each other. The steering motor may be controlled by a separate rudder bar or by a hand wheel on the handlever. The apparatus shown comprises a dummy fuselage A pivoted at B<SP>1</SP> within a normally horizontal plane B which is pivoted at C<SP>1</SP> within a vertical frame D carried by a support D<SP>1</SP> to turn about a vertical axis, the movements about the several axis being effected by electric motors C, E, F under the control of a joystick G mounted by a pivot G<SP>1</SP> transverse to the fuselage, on a plate H carried by longitudinal pivots G<SP>2</SP> on supports J. The plate H and rear support J carry circuit closing and resistance contacts H<SP>1</SP>, H'‹, J<SP>1</SP> that are engaged by arms G<SP>3</SP>, G<SP>4</SP> on the joystick G and the pivot G<SP>2</SP> for controlling the diving and climbing motor E and the banking motor C respectively. The turning motor F is controlled by the engagement with circuit closing and resistance contacts O<SP>1</SP>, L<SP>1</SP> of an arm K<SP>2</SP> on the rudder bar K. Movement of the contact arms controls resistances in the motor circuits whereby the speed of a motor increases the further the arm is moved from the normal position. In order that the fuselage may turn in the horizontal plane when it is banked unless the rudder bar is operated to counteract this, movement of the joystick about the pivot G<SP>2</SP> is arranged by means of a drum M and cable N<SP>2</SP> to turn a block O about the rudder bar pivot K<SP>1</SP>, independently of the rudder bar whereby the contacts O<SP>1</SP> on the block engage a contact K<SP>3</SP> on the arm K<SP>2</SP> thus closing the circuit of the turning motor F. To cause the fuselage to dive when it is banked unless this diving movement is counteracted by movement of the joystick about the pivot G<SP>1</SP>, the circuit of the diving motor E includes contacts H<SP>2</SP> on the plate H, that are engaged by a contact on the arm G<SP>3</SP> in its normal position, and includes also a pair of mercury switches disposed one on each side of the vertical centre line of the support J one on other of which are closed when the fuselage is banked to an extent of 10 degrees. In order that the functions of the turning and diving motors F, E may be interchanged when the fuselage is banked to a considerable extent one or other of an additional pair of mercury switches mounted on the support J is adapted to be closed when the banking angle reaches about 45 degrees each of these switches being arranged to close the circuit of a relay switch H<SP>5</SP> whereby the rudder bar is caused to control the motor E and the movement of the joystick that normally controls motor E controls instead the turning motor F. The member D<SP>1</SP> may be mounted on a carriage operable by an additional motor so that the whole apparatus may be moved relatively to the floor or to a target map and a second carriage operable by a further motor may be interposed between the main carriage and the frames B, D to effect lateral movement. The rudder bar may be replaced by a hand wheel carried by the joystick. Sudden operation of the controls may be arranged to break the circuit of the associated motor to ensure progressive movement.